Mid Week Rump
A cold-pan sear renders the fat properly, and minty smashed peas do all the work as the side.
Serves: 4-6
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes
INGREDIENTS
4 pieces lamb rump, about 1.4kg total, cap trimmed leaving a sliver of fat
500g baby potatoes, boiled until just tender, drained
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp olive oil, divided
3 tbsp rosemary leaves
4 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed
1 small onion, sliced
500g frozen baby peas
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 small fistful mint leaves
gravy, to serve (optional)
METHOD
Preheat the oven to 220°C.
Place the lamb fat-side down in a cold, flameproof baking dish, then place over medium-high heat to sear for 10 minutes. No oil is necessary - the fat will render off as it cooks.
Remove from the heat and transfer the lamb to a plate.
Tear or lightly smash the baby potatoes and toss them in the dish with the lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of the oil, rosemary, garlic and onion.
Nestle the lamb on top of the potatoes.
Place the dish in the oven for 20 minutes, then remove and rest for 10 minutes while you make the minty peas.
Blanch the peas.
Blitz half the peas with the salt, sugar, mint and remaining oil in a food processor, or mash with a fork and finely chop the mint by hand.
Toss the mashed peas through the whole peas.
Carve the lamb into 1cm-thick slices and serve with the potatoes, minty peas, and gravy if using.
HINTS
Starting with a cold pan rather than a hot one is the whole trick - it lets the fat render evenly across the surface instead of seizing up and curling away from the heat.
Tearing the potatoes rather than cutting them gives you more rough surface area to soak up the lemon, garlic and rosemary.
Resting the lamb for the full 10 minutes after roasting matters just as much as the sear - don't skip straight to carving.
NUTRITION (per recipe total, serves 4-6 - guide only):
Energy: 13800 kJ (3300 cal)
Protein: 195 g
Fat: 175 g
Saturated fat: 70 g
Carbohydrate: 145 g
Sugars: 20 g
Sodium: 2600 mg
This nutrition information is a guide only and may vary depending on brands, exact quantities, and ingredient substitutions used.